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What Causes Hoarseness in Children?

Hoarseness, the swelling of the vocal cords leading to muddled speech, is common in children. Several things could be causing the hoarseness, from the common cold to a child's asthma medication. Evaluate your child's situation carefully before seeking treatment.

  1. Colds and Flu

    • Children are often exposed to situations where it is easy to catch a cold, such as attending school and playing with groups of friends. Consequently, colds and flu together make up the most common cause of child hoarseness. Because swelling of the throat is a regular symptom of colds and flus, the vocal cords will enlarge, causing abnormal vibration. Colds and flu are usually not serious, so you do not need to concern yourself with treating hoarseness due to such a reason; the hoarseness should eventually diminish.

    Vocal Cord Nodules

    • Sometimes additional tissue grows on a child's vocal cords. This tissue confines the vibrations of the vocal cords, leading to hoarseness. Children may develop vocal cord nodules from overuse of the vocal cords, including actions like extensive yelling, screaming or coughing. Rest is an adequate treatment for vocal cord nodules; encourage the child to be quiet as a means of recovery.

    Neck Injury

    • Various neck injuries may damage the vocal cords, causing hoarseness. If a neck injury stimulates hoarseness, it could be an indication of a serious injury. A child whose hoarseness arises from this reason should see a physician as soon as possible. The treatment for hoarseness due to a neck injury depends on the type and severity of the injury.

    Allergies

    • Some allergies cause the vocal cords to become inflamed. If no other reason for hoarseness is clear, it could be an indication that the child has allergies. The child should see a physician to discuss allergies. If the child's hoarseness is due to an allergic reaction, medication can help alleviate the hoarseness.

    Inhalers

    • Children with asthma may be prone to hoarseness. This is due to inhaled corticosteroids from the inhaler producing a troublesome side effect of increasing the size of a child's vocal cords. Despite the severity of asthma being a more significant issue than child hoarseness, a child should not stop using her inhaler merely due to hoarseness. If the child or her parents are exceedingly concerned with hoarseness, speech therapy may be the appropriate solution.

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